Blog · Kleuranalyse Online
How to wear more color, even if it feels daunting
Want to wear more color, but find it daunting? With these six small steps you bring color into your wardrobe without it feeling strange. Plus a first color per season.
Which colors make you glow?
A wardrobe full of black, grey, beige and white. Nothing wrong with that, but do you wear those colors because you love them, or because color makes you a little nervous? Many women would like to know how to wear more color, but do not quite know where to start.
Below you can read why color can feel so daunting, and how to bring more of it into your wardrobe in small steps without feeling uncomfortable.
Why does color feel so daunting?
Usually it is not the color itself, but uncertainty. “Does this suit me?”, “Will I stand out too much?”, “Can I combine this?” With neutral colors you do not have to think about those questions. Color then quickly feels like a gamble.
That doubt largely disappears once you know which colors suit you. Then color is no longer a gamble, but a conscious choice.
Why it is worth it
The right color close to your face makes your skin look fresher and draws attention to your face instead of your clothes. Many women also notice that they feel happier and more confident on days they wear color. Only neutral shades, on the other hand, can make a look flat and tired, especially with a soft appearance.
How to wear more color: where to start
- Start small, close to your face. A scarf, earrings or a lipstick in a color that suits you. Small accents with a big effect.
- Choose from your own palette. A color that matches your undertone and contrast feels less striking than you think, because it supports your natural coloring.
- Start with a calm version. Is bright red too much? Then first choose a deeper or softer version from your palette, such as raspberry, rust or dusty rose.
- One color per outfit. Combine one color with your familiar neutral base, such as a colored sweater with trousers in your dark base color.
- Try tone-on-tone. Different shades of the same color together look calm and stylish. Read more about the monochrome outfit.
- Give yourself time. The first time feels unfamiliar. Wear it for a whole day and look in the mirror again at the end of the day.
Not ready to wear it outside yet? Then start at home or on a quiet day. That way your eye gets used to seeing yourself in color, without feeling watched.
A first color per season
Do you already know your season? Then these are good colors to start with. If you do not know your type yet, read what the 12 seasonal types are or take the free color test.
How to wear more color at work
At work, color can feel extra daunting. Yet color does not have to be unprofessional. Choose a calm color from your palette for a shirt or sweater under a blazer in your neutral base color. Or wear a colored blazer over a neutral outfit. Deep shades such as burgundy, petrol or bottle green often look just as businesslike as black or grey.
Common mistakes when wearing more color
Wanting too much at once
Suddenly buying a wardrobe full of bright colors often no longer feels like you after a week. Build it up calmly, piece by piece.
Choosing a trend color that does not suit you
A color hanging everywhere in the shops is not automatically your color. That is exactly when wearing color feels like a failure, while it was really the shade.
Only wearing color far from your face
Colored trousers or a bag are a nice start, but you see the biggest effect with color close to your face. Dare to take a step there too.
Color in your make-up and accessories
Color does not always have to be in your clothes. A lipstick in a color from your palette, a pair of statement earrings or a bag in your accent color are subtle ways to wear more color. Especially if you still find it daunting, this is a nice first step. You get used to the idea of wearing color without changing your whole outfit. Does it feel good? Then the step to a colored top or sweater is a lot smaller.
Combining color without hassle
When your colors come from the same palette, they automatically go together. A few simple combinations to start with:
- Color with neutral: a colored top with your neutral base color. Read which neutral colors suit you.
- Two colors from your palette: for example lavender with grey-blue, or terracotta with olive green.
- Color in a print: a print with colors from your palette is an easy in-between step. More about this in how to mix prints.
Want to know for sure which colors suit you? With a color analysis you get your personal palette, and with a color fan you choose with confidence in the shop.
Looking for inspiration? On our Pinterest page we collect outfits and color combinations for each seasonal type.
Frequently asked questions
Which color is best to start with?
A color from your palette that you like yourself. A color that comes back in your eyes is often a nice, natural start.
Do I have to get rid of my neutral clothes?
No. Your neutral base remains very useful for combining with color.
What if I feel too conspicuous in color?
Start with small accents or with a calm version of a color. A color that suits you stands out less than you think: people mainly see that you look fresh.
Read also: How do you discover your power color? and What colors suit me?
Color analysis
Discover which colors suit you
Send us a few photos and receive your seasonal type and personal color palette. Completely online.
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Send us a few photos and we will tell you which seasonal type you are and which colors truly bring you to life. Completely online, from home.